wedding day installment 4
After the picture-taking frenzy at the church, the drinking in the church parking lot and the bustling that seemed to take hours, we were finally ready to be on our way to the reception. My brother Brad chaffeured Andy and I there in the borrowed Cadillac.This was the first time all day that Andy and I had some time to just be together and breathe. It was nice to be away from the cameras and all the people for a few minutes. We exchanged excited and loving hugs and kisses, made soft exclaimations about what we had just done, he reread the card I had given him and explored his PSP. I had to point out and find some of the little secrets that I had hidden on there for him because he hadn't had enough time before the ceremony to play with it and figure out how to find them. I had placed a song file on there -- our first dance song -- and a picture file that was actually a note in .jpeg form that I had created on Photoshop. He was really excited about his gift and was loving the PSP. And I, of course, loved my necklace as I said before. I wear it all the time now.
We arrived at the Club at Shepard Hills as they sun was low in the sky. It has been somewhat chilly all day and with the sun going down, it was really getting cold. Despite the cold and the fact that those of us in dresses, with our arms exposed, were freezing, we wanted to go out onto the golf course to get a couple wedding party pictures. When we got to Shepard Hills was found that the golf carts weren't ready for us to take because somewhere along the line there had been a miscommunication. Cliff, the main man in charge of our reception, said that he hadn't been notified that we were going to be using the carts, which is incorrect because it's written right on our contract. He spazzed a little and then rushed off to get the cart keys. The way that Cliff reacted when we told him we wanted to use the carts made it seem like he was angry or annoyed that we wanted to use the carts and he didn't want us to. I don't really think that was the case. I think he was really focused on making our reception the best that it would be and on having things run smoothly that this little blip in his plan made his type A personality a little frantic.
Andy helps me get everything situated. Haha.
Waiting for our golf carts.
But everything worked out. He was soon back outside with the keys and we were all loaded in to golfcarts and zipping after Jim Smith across the course. Because it was so cold and because Lizi couldn't leave her cart (as we couldn't bring her wheelchair with us) we only took a few pictures of the wedding party out on the course. I can't wait to see how they turn out. There is one of us all in carts in a line and one of us gathered around Lizi's cart. I'm there might be a couple more but those are the ones I remember the best. After we were done with those pictures, we sent the wedding party back to the reception so that they could warm up and gather up the parents for the entrance. I heard rumor that there was some wild cart driving and some off-pathing on the part of the wedding party on the way back. I wish we had a picture of that. Haha.
After the wedding party left, it was just Andy and I and Jim Smith. We took some nice romantic pictures of the two of us. One that I can wait to see -- Jim had Andy dip and then kiss me, I'm holding my bouquet but the hand is trailing down along my side and behind us are all the beautiful Autumn trees and a gorgeous sunset. I want to see that shot so badly! When we were done and were walking back to the carts, Andy took his tux jacket off and draped it over my shoulders. We held hand, intertwining our fingers, and Jim took a picture of us walking away like that. I bet that one is cute too.
We headed back and when we arrived at The Club at Shepard Hills, our wedding party and parents were there ready to be introduced and waiting for us. Bob Smith, our DJ, went over how the introductions were going to go with everyone and also made sure that he was pronouncing everyone's name correctly. I took a quick nip out of... someone's flask. Standing back there, with all of us ready and waiting and knowing our guests were inside having a good time was so exciting! I felt like I was going to burst. I was so happy and couldn't wait to just be in there with everyone and my new husband. I could not stand still. The entrances began with the parents. My mom and Budd were first, then dad and Terrie, Andy's mom and Chris and finally Traci with Brad as her escort. Then it was wedding party time. Alan and Cindy went first, followed by Jake and Lizi (when announcing them Bob said "Bridesmaid Elizabeth Duhai escorted by Jake "The Hammer" Casella!" and Andy and I just about lost it. Bob totally made up that nickname. We were like. "What?! The Hebrew Hammer?! He's not Jewish!" So funny. In the video you can see Jake's face and tell he is wondering what the heck that was all about. Andy and I still laugh over that. And Jake was the only person Bob gave a nickname. Hahaha.). Then it was Brandy and Roger-Jake, Dave and Miriam and finally Bethanne and Adam. Then it was our turn. I tugged Andy up to the doorway and was just laughing and all excited dancing/jumping around, particularly when our entrance music -- the theme song for Futurama -- began. And then Bob announced us, we entered and threw our hands up in the air (Yay, we win!) and our guests went wild. I think that was one of the best feelings of my entire life. Surrounded by our family and friends yelling, screaming, clapping, hooting and hollering for us. That welcome was so awesome. I can't even describe it. It sent me soaring to have such a reception from everyone. You could feel the pure joy and delight in the room. It was just amazing.
